Convertible canister vacuum cleaner

ABSTRACT

THE VALVE TO ITS SUCTION POSITION. A FRONT PANEL, MOUNTED ON THE INTERMEDIATE HOUSING A SECURED TO THE LOWER HOUSING, OPERABLY MOUNTS THE SUCTION/BLOWER LEVERS.   A VACUUM CLEANER OF THE CANISTER VARIETY FOR DOMESTIC USE HAVING LOWER AND UPPER HOUSINGS SECURED TOGETHER BY U-SHAPED CLIPS, AND AN INTERMEDIATE HOUSING, BEWTWEEN THE UPPER AND INTERMEDIATE HOUSINGS. IS DISPOSED A HOSE STORAGE COMPARTMENT WITHIN WHICH THE HOSE IS COLIED WHEN THE CLEANER IS NOT USE. A DUST BAG IS LOCATED WITHIN A VACUUM. CHAMBER BETWEEN THE INTERMEDIATE AND LOWER HOUSING. FOR CONVERTING THE CLEANER FROM SUCTION TO BLOWER OPERATION AND VICE VERSA THERE IS PROVIDED A SELECTIVELY OPERABLE LEVER CONTROLLED SLIDE VALVE DISPOSED BETWEEN THE HOSE AND THE VACUUM CHAMBER. IN THE SUCTION MODE THE VALVE IS POSITIONED TO COMMUNICATE THE HOSE WITH THE FILTER BAG AND AN EXHAUST DOOR IS POSITIONED TO COMMUNICATE THE BLOWER EXHAUST WITH THE ROOM. A BLOWER CONTROL LEVER EXTENDING OUT THE FRONT OF THE CLEANER MAY BE MANUALLY ENGAGED TO SLIDE THE VALVE TO ITS BLOWER POSITION TO THEREBY CLOSE THE COMMUNICATION BEWTEEN THE HOSE AND THE BAG, CLOSE THE EXHAUST AND COMMUNICATE THE HOSE TO THE BLOWER EXHAUST. TO REVERT TO SUCTION OPERATION A BLOWER CONTROL RELEASE LEVER IS ENGAGED TO RETURN

1971 J.J. BOLZAN, JR, ETAL 3,

CONVERTIBLE CANISTER VACUUM CLEANER Original Filed Jan. 8, 1970 5 Sheets-Sheet l Fig] WITNESS ATTORNEY 'Nov. 16, 1971 BQLZAN, JR ETAL 3,619,851

CONVERTIBLE CANISTER VACUUM CLEANER Original Filed Jan. 8, 1970 5 Sheets-Sheet 8 16, 1911 J. J. BOLZAN, JR. EAL 3,6 5

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r v 7 q 8 5 s a INVENTORS N James J. Bolzan, Jr. Charles 1? Fromknecht W T/V555 Q MM),

BY 'MJ ZTTORNEY I Nov. 16, 1971 J, BOLZAN, JR, E AL 3,619,851

CONVERTIBLE CANISTER VACUUM CLEANER Original Filed Jan. 8, 1970 5 Shootsmoot 4.

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N g 8: INVENTORS D James J. Bolzan, Jr. wmVESS Charles T. Fromknechf E WW y 11% NOV. 16, 1971 Jul, BOLZAN, R ETAL 3,619,851

CONVERTIBLE CANISTER VACUUM CLEANER Original Filed Jan. 8, 1970 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS James J. Bolzan, Jr. Charles 7? Fromknecht WITNESS mzahmaiflg. BY

United States Patent M 3 619 851 CONVERTIBLE cANisTiiR VACUUM CLEANER James J. Bolzan, Jr., and Charles T. Fromknecht, Anderson, S.C., assignors to The Singer Company, New York, NY. Original application Jan. 8, 1970, Ser. No. 1,498. Divided and this application Aug. 5, 1970, Ser.

Int. Cl. A471 5/14 U.S. Cl. -330 16 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A vacuum cleaner of the canister variety for domestic use having lower and upper housings secured together by Ushaped clips, and an intermediate housing. Between the upper and intermediate housings is disposed a hose storage compartment within which the hose is coiled when the cleaner is not in use. A dust bag is located within a vacuum chamber between the intermediate and lower housing. For converting the cleaner from suction to blower operation and vice versa there is provided a selectively operable lever controlled slide valve disposed between the hose and the vacuum chamber. In the suction mode the valve is positioned to communicate the hose with the filter bag and an exhaust door is positioned to communicate the blower exhaust with the room. A blower control lever extending out the front of the cleaner may be manually engaged to slide the valve to its blower position to thereby close the communication between the hose and the bag, close the exhaust door and communicate the hose to the blower exhaust. To revert to suction operation a blower control release lever is engaged to return the valve to its suction position. A front panel, mounted on the intermediate housing and secured to the lower housing, operably mounts the suction/ blower levers.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This is a division of US. application Ser. No. 1,498, filed Jan. 8, 1970, by the same inventors herein and assigned to the present assignee.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to vacuum cleaners and more particularly to an improved canister type of vacuum cleaner having a selector mechanism for converting from vacuum to blower operation without having to disconnect the hose from the cleaner.

It is a desirable feature in vacuum cleaners operating on the suction principle to have the capability of conversion from the suction mode to a blower mode of operation in which air under a positive pressure may be eX- hausted through a hose. The blower mode may be utilized for various household chores such as, for example, blowing dust out of hard to vacuum locations, expelling material that may be clogged in the hose, and, when used with an attachment therefor, spraying clothing, carpets and the like with moth proofing solutions.

Generally, the prior art accomplished this by providing separate suction and blower openings whereupon to con vert from one operation to the other it is necessary to insert the hose into the appropriate opening for the desired operation. Other prior art cleaners require the insertion of a tool specifically designed to convert the cleaner from suction to blower operation. It is, of course, tedious and time consuming when the operator is required to disconnect the hose for altering the type of op eration, that is, vacuuming or blowing. Further, by relocating the hose for blower operation the operator does not have the high degree of maneuverability and control of the cleaner that accompanies the vacuuming operation. One prior art vacuum cleaner disclosed in US. Pat. No. 2,227,302 includes a manually selective rotatable control member for converting from a vacuuming to a blowing operation without having to disconnect the hose from the cleaner inlet opening once the hose manually has been connected with the inlet. The control member comprises a cylindrical valve of relatively complex and costly construction that rotatably mounts in a laterally disposed bore at the front end of the cleaner. Furthermore, this member merely communicates the same flow path with different ports, so that in both modes air flows through the dust bag. Thus in the blower mode there is an unnecessary pressure drop in the bag.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention overcomes the above discussed deficiencies by providing a novel and improved vacuum cleaner having a frame comprising upper and lower housings and an intermediate housing secured therebetween arranged to provide a hose storage compartment, a vacuum chamber and an air-mover compartment. A hose is secured to the vacuum cleaner intake on the floor of the hose storage compartment. To provide quick, easy conversion from vacuum to blower operation without having to disconnect the hose from the cleaner there is provided a suction/blower selector mechanism comprising a slidable valve member located between the hose and the vacuum chamber that is operated by means of levers extending from the front of the cleaner. In its suction mode the member is positioned such that the hose communicates directly with the dust bag in the vacuum chamber. The air thus flows from the hose into the bag and thence through the air mover and out a vaccum exhaust door to the hose storage compartment which communicates through the front of the cleaner with ambient air. Upon manual actuation of a blower control lever the slidable member is positioned to close off the communication between the hose and the bag, to close the vacuum exhaust door, and to place the hose in communication with the air-mover compartment. Air entering the front of the cleaner now passes through ports uncovered by the valve member and enters the vacuum chamber, bypassing the bag, and thence flows through the air mover, and is exhausted out of the hose under positive pressure.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a vacuum cleaner having a novel and improved selector mechanism that provides quick, easy conversion from vacuum to blower operation without disconnecting the hose from the cleaner.

Another object of this invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner which may be converted selectively from suction operation, in which the dirt laden air is drawn through a hose into the cleaner, passed through a primary filter and exhausted at low pressure from the cleaner, to blower operation, in which the air is drawn into the cleaner, bypasses the filter bag and is exhausted through the hose under positive pressure.

A further object of this invention is to provide a canister type vacuum cleaner having a hose, a primary filter bag and a blower unit, and which includes a control valve selectively movable between a vacuum position and a blower position, the vacuum position being such that the valve communicates the hose with the filter bag, the blower position being such that the valve communicates the hose with the high pressure exhaust of the blower.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner having a hose, a vacuum chamber and a blower compartment and including a control valve having two separate air paths and which is selectively movable between a vacuum position and a blower position, the vacuum position being such that the first path is put in communication with the hose and with the vacuum chamber while the second path is substantially closed to flow, the blower position being such that the vacuum chamber is placed in communication with the outside air and the first path is closed While the second path is placed in communication with the hose and with the blower compartment, the cleaner further including means for communicating the blower compartment with the outside air when the valve is in the vacuum position and for closing off such communication when the valve is in the blower position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The particular features and advantages of the invention as well as other objects will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the main assemblies of a vacuum cleaner embodying the novel features of the present invention, and showing the hose in its coiled position on the hose floor;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1 in the suction mode with the hose extracted from the storage compartment and taken substantially along the longitudinal center line thereof with certain parts broken away for clarity;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the vacuum cleaner in the blower mode;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the cleaner taken substantially along line 44 of FIG. 2 but showing the hose in its stored position and with certain of the parts broken away;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the vacuum cleaner with the upper housing removed for clarity and the hose floor partially broken away and partially in section to show the blower valve which also is partially bro-ken away and its position selector apparatus;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 2 in the area of the blower valve;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the blower valve with parts thereof broken away to show its construction; and

FIG. 8 is a partially broken away cross sectional view taken substantially along line 88 of PEG. 3 showing the blower valve and its cooperating elements.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now tothe accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals denote similar parts throughout the various views, there is disclosed a canister vacuum cleaner generally designated 20 which provides air suction for household cleaning and also, has the facility of use as a blower by selectively reversing the direction of air flow through a flexible hose 21. The cleaner frame comprises an upper housing 22 including a hose floor assembly 23, a lower housing 24 and a bulkhead or intermediate housing 25 assembled in sandwich-like relationship between the first-mentioned housings. These housings 22, 24 and 25 are fitted together at their periphery by conventional means comprising a series of tongue and groove connections disposed at the sides and the rear of the cleaner housings. The upper housing 22 has formed about its periphery at the sides and at the rear a lip 26 having a tongue 27 depending downward therefrom which registers with a first groove 28 formed in a peripheral lip 29 of the lower housing 24. The lower housing 24 is provided in its lip 29 at a location spaced inwardly from the first groove 28 with a second continuous groove 31] and an upstanding tongue 31 formed therewith which register with a tongue 32 and a groove 33, respectively, formed in the underside of a peripheral flange 34 of the bulkhead 25. The bulkhead 25 is secured to the lower housing 24 by means of a pair of screws 35 at the rear of the unit and by a pair of bolts 36 and nuts 36' at the front thereof. The hose floor assembly 23 includes three bosses 37 formed thereon through each of which a screw 38 projects. Each screw is threaded into an elongated internally threaded rod 37 integral with a flange of the upper housing 22 to secure the hose floor assembly thereto. Formed on the top surface of the bulkhead are five bosses 39 each of which includes a tapped hole. The hose floor assembly also includes five holes through which pass an equal number of screws 40 which are threadedly received within the bosses 39 to secure the hose floor 23 to the bulkhead 25. The upper and lower housings 22 and 24 respectively are secured together by a plurality of U-shaped spring metal clips 41 spaced about the periphery at the sides and at the rear of the assembled housings. Each of the clips straddles the lips 26 and 29, and has an aperture 42 provided in each of its legs for engaging upper and lower bosses 43 and 44 molded respectively onto the upper and lower housing peripheral lips 28 and 29. Each of the bosses 43 and 44 is located at the outer edge of a substantially T-shaped recess 45 molded in the lip of the corresponding housing. A conventional bumper 19 surrounds the complete cleaner and provides the usual protection against damaging furniture, as well as additional means for sealing.

The bulkhead 25 is formed at the rear thereof with molded pockets 46 and 47 within which are respectively mounted a motor blower assembly 48 and a cord reel assembly 49, both of which may be of any suitable standard construction. The air moving unit or motor blower assembly 48 preferably comprises a two stage fan 50 and a coaxial driving motor 51, the motor being cooled by the high air flow created by the fans, 'Suflice it to say that in the present preferred embodiment the air flow enters an inlet opening 52 of the fan stage and is exhausted at the motor end through a cylindrical shaped motor blower guard 53 that is formed with exhaust apertures in its cylindrical wall and is secured to the motor frame casting by means of screws 54. To minimize vibration of the motor blower is mounted resiliently in floating fashion in the cleaner. The fan end of the motor blower 48 seats on an annular rubber gasket 55 secured such as by glue to the bottom of the pocket 46, while at the exhaust or motor end there is provided between the motor and the upper housing 22 a pair of disc-like rubber mounts 56 (only one of which is shown) which may be fastened, such as by gluing, to the upper housing. To further isolate the motor blower from the adjacent walls of the bulkhead there is provided at the fan end a plurality of rubber mounts 57 spaced about the periphery of the fan casing pocket 46. The motor-blower is further secured by a rod 58 connected to the fan casing and to a cylindrical boss 59 on the bulkhead. The horizontally disposed cord reel 49 is conventional and is attached by means of screws to the bulkhead. Also there maybe provided a system including a pressure sensitive switch '60 carried by the bulkhead and an electrically cooperating indicator light 61 secured at the front of the bulkhead to tell the operator when the filter bag has become full and should be changed. The system is conventional and does not form a part of the present invention.

A vacuum compartment, within which is located a porous filter bag 62, is formed by the walls of the bulkhead 25, and the lower housing 24. The lower housing includes an enlarged opening within which is fitted a filter bag access door 63 that is secured to the lower housing by screws 64 and pivots about a living hinge 65 formed therewith. To provide rigidity to the door the inner side thereof is of a rib construction. A molded plastic L-shaped latch 66 releasably secured to the door in sealed relation to the housing at the end opposite the hinge. The bag door latch is secured to the bag door by an annular retaining ring 67 and is molded with a knurled knob 68 located outside the bag door to facilitate opening and closing of the bag door. The filter bag 62 is mounted and properly located within the vacuum compartment by a substantially rigid metal bag bracket 69 comprising three integral legs. A lower leg 70 is secured by screws 71 to the bag access door to properly position an upstanding leg 72 and an upper leg 73. The leg 73 is of a substantially U-shaped configuration and includes a series of upstanding overhanging locating tabs 74 formed on the edges of the opening. The space between the tabs and the surface of the legs 73 act as a slideway for receipt of the bag. The filter bag 62 comprises a cardboard locating and mounting collar 78 that is adapted to fit into the slideway formed by the bag bracket and is positioned properly by means of the locating and positioning tabs 74 formed with the bracket. Between the mounting collar and the filter bag there is provided a spacing member 79, also made of cardboard, to prevent the filter bag from contacting the edges of the bag bracket, thereby minimizing possible tearing of the bag as it is inserted or removed. The locating collar may be provided with a finger slot 80 to facilitate handling of the bag.

In the filter bag or vacuum compartment of the cleaner, mounted for movement with the bag door, are a pair of identical secondary filters 81 and 81' each of which comprises a rectangular grid-like frame 82 formed on either side with a plurality of laterally extending alternately oflset molded guide tabs 83, and at the top with a tab 84 to facilitate manipulation of the filter. The lateral tabs form a longitudinal slideway between the alternate sets thereof for positioning on the access door as will be eX- plained. Each frame has permanently aflixed thereto by suitable means a rectangular piece of open fare plastic foam 85 that provides additional cleaning of the air after it has been drawn through the filter bag by the motor blower and also serves as a protective backup filter should the filter bag rupture. Furthermore, these filters provide the main filtering of air during blower operation. The lower housing is formed with a partition wall located adjacent the pivotally mounted end of the filter bag door and which separates the vacuum compartment from the air-mover compartment. The partition wall comprises a pair of side or lateral walls 86 and 86 and a central wall 87 which together with a similar partition wall on the bulkhead, comprising a pair of side walls 88, 88' and a central wall 89, are arranged to define a pair of rectangular openings for receiving the secondary filter. To assemble the secondary filters the slideway formed by the tabs 74 thereon at one side is slid into register with an edge of leg 72 of the bag bracket 69 so that the plastic foam member is disposed in front of its respective opening in sealed abutting relation with the partition wall. The other end of the filter frame is held in position against the partition wall by means of a molded tab receiving channel 90 formed on the filter door. Also, to further effect the sealing relationship between the lower housing and the bulkhead, in the area of partition wall along the top edge of each of the partition walls 86, 86 and 87 there is secured a seal or gasket 91 that abuts against the bulkhead partition walls 88, 88' and 89 so that all the air flowing into the fan must first pass through the filters 81.

A front panel 110 comprises a plastic cover secured in place by a pair of integrally molded locking tabs 113 and 113' having respective ledges 114 and 114' including respective tapered cam surfaces 115 and 115' which snap to lock with complementary overhanging flange projections 116 and 116' formed on the lower housing. A pair of fingers 121 and 121' respectively extend downwardly from tabs 113 and 113' and set against shoulders 122 and 122' respectively in the lower housing. A pair of screws 123 and 123' secure the panel 110 to the bulkhead, so that the panel is properly secured to both the lower housing 24 and the bulkhead 25. The front edge of the hose floor 23 rests on the rear edge of panel 110 when the former is fitted into place. The front panel assists in securing a pair of levers 234 and 241 used in conjunction with the conversion from vacuum mode to blower mode and whose operation and securement will be described in detail hereinafter.

The hose floor assembly generaly designated 23 comprises a hose floor 124, which is a molded plastic part, having an upstanding rear wall 125 that mates with a peripheral groove 126 in the upper housing 22 and is formed with a concave central portion 127 provided with a plurality of exhaust vents or ports 128 over which is glued an open-face exhaust filter 98. A substantially circular opening 129 is located in substantially the center of the floor. When operating the cleaner as a blower the exhaust ports 128 are covered by an exhaust door 130, preferably made from metal, that pivots on an axle 131 journaled in a pair of bosses 132 secured to the underside of the hose floor. The door includes a closing portion 133 having a shape that corresponds to that of the concave central portion 127 of the rear wall 126, and a lower supporting portion 134 suitably formed with or secured to the former and which includes a pair of tabs 135 through which pass the axle 131. Formed on the lower portion 134 of the exhaust door is a curved striker portion 136 that wraps about the axle 131 in overlaying fashion to define a lever arm arrangement. The striker portion 136 includes a central groove 137 extending longitudinally thereof for purposes which will become clear later. A helical spring 138 is secured at one end to the free end of the door striker portion and at the other end to an angle shaped boss 139 that is fastened to the hose floor so as to normally bias the exhaust door 130 downward into an inoperative position to maintain the exhaust ports 128 open. Since the operation of the exhaust door relates to the operation of the blower valve mechanism it will be discussed in conjunction therewith hereinafter. However, it should be noted that the spacing between the lower housing 24 and the hose floor 23 may be made large enough to eliminate the need for the ports 128; the exhaust door 130 and its associated elements would not then be required. A seal 140 secured to a rib 141 on the bottom of the hose floor aids in maintaining the space forward of the seal, between the hose floor and the bulkhead, free from the exhaust air when the valve is in the blower position. A pair of seals 159 and 159' mounted in diagonal slots formed in the bulkhead forward of the pockets 46 and 47 further act to seal the motor-blower compartment from the front of the cleaner for purposes that will be obvious as the description proceeds.

Mounted for free rotational movement about a normal vertical axis in the circular opening of the hose floor is a substantially rigid hose elbow 142 which comprises a continuous annular flange 143 integrally molded therewith located adjacent the top of the hose floor. The elbow comprises two substantially perpendicular legs, one of which 142' extends through the floor opening and is contained therein by retaining snap ring 144 that is disposed in an annular groove integrally formed with the elbow and located adjacent the lower side of the hose floor. At the top the hose elbow is formed with an upwardly extending lug 146 disposed in register with a cover 147 for an open end hose storage compartment defined by the hose floor 23 assembly and the upper housing 22 including the cover 147. On the lower surface of the cover directly above the elbow lug there is formed a boss 148 having a recess 149 for receiving the lug and assisting in maintaining the hose elbow properly in place. The hose cover is provided at its rear with an upstanding portion 150 and is formed at its rear edge with a laterally extending groove or notch 151 extending between the side edges of the cover. The hose cover is assembled to the upper housing by fitting the groove into register with a lower edge 152 of the top of the upper housing and snapping the cover in place.

The flexible hose 21 is secured to the end of one leg 142" of the elbow by a standard hose clamp 158. At the end of the other leg 142' of the elbow there is attached a hose winding mechanism including an annular ratchet type gear 160 having an annular hub 161 within which the leg 142 is locked by a tongue and groove arrangement indicated by 169 and 170. The winding mechanism is fully described in copending US. application Ser. No. 1,498, from which the instant case was divided.

Located in a recess 199 formed in the bulkhead 25 and extending lengthwise of the cleaner is a blower valve 200. The recess 199 defines a slideway for the valve and is formed with a substantially central intake opening 201 aligned with the opening in the hose elbow. To provide a sealed connection between the intake opening and the filter bag 62 there is provided a cylindrical truncated tube 202 molded with the bulkhead and depending in a downward direction into the vacuum chamber. An annular gasket 203 is secured to the bulkhead about the tube 202 so that when the filter bag door 63 is closed the tube will register with the filter bag inlet 204 and the gasket will abut against the mounting collar 78 to form an airtight seal therewith. At the front end of the recess 199 are a pair of laterally spaced openings 205 and 206 which communicate with the vacuum chamber. The valve 200 is prevented from being vertically displaced from the recess 199 by the bottom lip 207 of the hose elbow and by annular seal 208 glued on the bottom of the ratchet 160 in the vicinity of the hub 161 and which further prevents leakage past the upper surface of the valve.

The blower valve comprises a molded relatively narrow elongated member of rectangular shape formed by a lower portion and an upper portion. The lower portion includes a bottom wall 210, a pair of side walls 211, and 212 and an end wall 213. An annular opening of substantially the same size as the bottom opening of the hose elbow is defined in the bottom wall 210 by an annular cylindrical wall 214 molded therewith. Also molded with the bottom wall is a grid-like series of ribs 215 extending upward from the bottom wall between the cylindrical wall and the end wall, and a rack arm 216 including a plurality of teeth 217 extending longitudinally from the end wall. A resilient member 218 is secured to the end wall to provide a cushioning as well as a sealing effect between the valve end wall and the recess end wall when in the vacuum mode. The upper portion comprises a fiat surface 219 having two apertures 220 and 221 formed therein and which is secured in a suitable manner, as by gluing, to form a top for the valve. The opening 2200f the top is disposed in register with the opening formed by the cylinder 214 so as to form a through aperture in the valve, while the other opening 221 is disposed in overlaying relation to the grid-like ribs 215. It is thus clear from the valve construction that the end opposite the rack end is open and that an air passage is defined between the bottom surface 210 and the top surface 219 around the cylindrical wall 214 and up through the opening 221. At one corner at the open end of the valve secured to a boss 223 formed with the bottom wall 210 is a longitudinal metal rod 224 having a raised free end 225 disposed for contact with the groove 137 in the free end of the curved striker member 136 of the exhaust door 133 when the valve is moved into its blower position. To facilitate sliding movement of the valve, as will hereinafter be described, the bottom wall 210 has a sheet of frictionless material 226 glued thereto as does the undersurface of the ratchet 160 in the vicinity of seal 208 includes such material 227.

The rack arm 21 6 slidably seats in a longitudinal groove 230 provided at the front of the bulkhead. Extending laterally of the groove 230 is a second groove or recess 231 formed in the bulkhead to provide a guideway for a rack 232. A triangular portion 233 is formed integral with the rack 232 and a blower control lever 234 which is provided with a knurled surface and protrudes out the front of the panel for facilitating manipulation thereof. Secured at one end to the triangular portion 233 and at the other end to a boss 235 molded with the bulkhead is a helical spring 236- which acts to normally bias the lever 234 and rack 232 to the right of the cleaner as viewed from the top looking from front to rear (see FIG. 5). This position corresponds to the vacuum or suction position of the blower valve (see FIG. 2).

Mounted for rotational movement on an upstanding pin 238 disposed in a recess adjacent the longitudinal groove 230 and the lateral groove 231 are a pinion 239 and gear 240 which are molded coaxially together. The pinion 239 is located above the gear and is disposed in operable engagement with the lever rack 232 while the gear 240 is in operable engagement with the rack 217 of the blower valve. Laterally spaced from the control lever on the hose return pedal side of the cleaner is a bellcrank shape molded blower control release lever 241 including on one leg thereof a manually engageable knurled portion 242 extending through the front panel. The level 241 is pivotably mounted on a pin 243 at the front of the bulkhead 25 adjacent the pedal 117. On the free end of the other leg of the lever 241 is an upstanding projection having a tapered cam surface 244 on the top surface thereof and a tapered cam surface 245 on the edge thereof adjacent the lever crotch. integrally formed with the hub 246 of the lever 241 is a resilient flexible arm 247 which contacts an edge 248 of the bulkhead to thereby bias the lever in a clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 5. A torsion spring 249 encoiling the hub 246, and having one end engaging a lug on the bulkhead and the other end engaging the lever leg adjacent the knurl, acts with the flexible arm 247 to ensure that the release lever always returns to its desired normal position. -As will be explained in detail hereinafter when the blower valve is located in its forwardmost position with its through aperture aligned with the elbow aperture and the inlet opening 201, the levers and their associated parts are disposed as shown in FIG. 2 and the cleaner is set for vacuum or suction operation. To switch from vacuum to blower operation the operator moves the blower control lever from the right (FIG. 5) to the left (FIG. 8) until it locks into a position closely adjacent the blower control release lever. The triangular portion 233 of the control lever 234 is provided with a downward extending, angularly disposed camming flange 250 which upon engaging the similarly disposed cam surface 245 formed on the release lever latch causes the latter to pivot counterclockwise (as vie-wed in FIG. 5). As the lever 234 is further moved to the left the camming flange passes behind the upstanding portion 244 and locks therewith in the position shown in FIG. 8 until it is desired to return to vacuum operation. To revert from blower to vacuuming mode the knurled lever 242 is pressed causing the upstanding portion 244 to disengage with the cam 250. The control lever 234 thereupon is returned by spring 236 to the position shown in FIG. 5 while the flexible arm. 247 the spring 249 return the release lever 242 to its normal position.

It is clear that as the control lever 234 is moved by the operator its rack 232 causes the pinion 239 and thus, the gear 240' to turn clockwise as viewed in FIG. 5. Since the gear 240 operably engages the rack 217 the valve 200 is driven from its forward position where, as shown in FIG. 2, the opening 220 is in register with the hose elbow, to a rearwardly disposed blower position with the opening 221 being placed in register with the hose elbow as shown in FIG. 3. With the valve in the vacuum position the openings 205 and 206 in the bulkhead are closed by the bottom of the valve and no air can be drawn therein; however, when in the blower mode the openings 205 and 206 are uncovered and air can flow in through these ports. Furthermore, as the valve slides to the blower position the free end 225 of the valve arm 224 contacts the groove 137 in the curved striker 136 and remains in contact therewith as the valve continues toward the blower pd sition, thereby forcing the exhaust door 133 to pivot upwardly into air sealing relationship with the exhaust vents 128, as shown in FIG. 3.

The air flow with the blower valve in its vacuum or suction position and blower position, shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively, now will be described. As stated above, for vacuuming the lever 234 assumes its normal position as shown in FIG. 5 and the valve 200 is located in its forwardmost position in the slideway 199 and the openings 205 and 206 are effectively sealed. Thus, the through opening 220 of the valve is in alignment with the lower leg opening of the hose elbow and the inlet opening 201 of the bulkhead, thereby communicating the hose with the filter by inlet 204 via the tube 202. As shown by the arrows in FIG. 2, the vacuum created in the vacuum chamber by the fan 50 draws air through the hose 21, the hose elbow 142, the blower valve port 220, the inlet opening 201 and through a first filter comprising the air porous filter bag 62 whereupon dirt and dust particles are filtered out. The filtered air then travels through the secondary filters 85 into the air mover chamber where the air is drawn into the inlet of the fan 50 and is forced out at the motor end of the motor blower assembly 48. Since the door 130 is open in the vacuum mode, most of the air flows out through the exhaust vents 128 into the hose storage compartment which is in communication with the surrounding atmosphere, while some of the air fiows between the bulkhead 24 and the hose floor 23 around the ratchet gear 160 and out the front of the cleaner. If the ports 128 were eliminated, then all the air would exhaust between lower housing 24 and floor 23 out the front of the cleaner.

When it is desired to use the cleaner as a blower the control lever 234 is moved toward the blower release lever until it locks in position as discussed above. The valve 200 then is positioned, as shown in FIG. 3, with the solid portion of the bottom valve surface blocking off inlet opening 201 and the exhaust door 130 covering and sealing the exhaust vents 128. In this position of the valve 200, the openings 205 and 206 of the bulkhead are uncovered and the vacuum chamber communicates with ambient air via the front of the cleaner. The vacuum created in the vacuum chamber by the fan thus draws air in through the openings 205 and 206 formed in the bulkhead. The air passes through the vacuum chamber, bypassing the bag 62, and out through the secondary filters 85 into the inlet 52 of the fan of the motor blower assembly 48 being exhausted at the motor end. Since the exhaust vents 128 are covered by the exhaust door the only way for the air to exhaust from the sealed air-mover is by flowing between the hose floor and the bulkhead in the vicinity of the unsealed central portion thereof, where the valve 200 is positioned. The air thus enters the open end of the valve and is directed through the passageway defined around the cylindrical wall 214 whereupon the air passes out of the valve through the valve exhaust port 221 which in this position of valve 200 is in register with the hose elbow. The grid-like ribs 215 aid in directing the air upwardly through the opening 221 into the hose elbow whereupon the air is exhausted under positive pressure from the hose 221.

While we have shown and described but one complete embodiment of our invention, it is to be understood that this embodiment is to be taken as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense. It is clear that numerous other alterations of the structure herein disclosed will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. All such modifications which do not depart from the spirit of the invention are intended to be included within the scope of the claims.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what we claim herein is:

1. A vacuum cleaner convertible between suction and blower modes of operation comprising a frame including a first housing, a second housing secured to the first housing defining a vacuum chamber therebetween, a dirt retaining porous filter bag mounted in said chamber for filtering air drawn therethrough during the suction mode, said second housing having first and second air inlet openings communicating with said chamber such that said first opening communicates with the interior of said bag and said second opening communicates with the exterior thereof, a hose, means for mounting said hose in registration with said first opening, air-moving means including a fan for creating subatmospheric pressure in said chamber, exhaust portal means in said frame adapted to vent externally of said cleaner air discharged from said fan, a control valve mounted between said hose and said chamber adapted to be moved between a suction position and a blower position, said valve including first and second conduits, said first conduit communicating said hose with said first inlet opening when said valve is in the suction position, said second conduit communicating said hose with fan discharge air when the valve is in the blower position, said valve further including means for sealing said second inlet opening to thereby cease communication between said second opening and said chamber when said valve is in the suction position, means for selectively moving said valve between the suction and blower positions, and means for sealing said exhaust portal means when said valve is in the blower position so that substantially all said fan discharge air thereby communicates 'with said hose.

2. A vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 1 wherein said portal sealing means comprises a plate adapted to overlay said portal, means for pivotably mounting said plate on said frame adjacent said portal such that said plate may be pivoted between a closed position wherein said plate overlays said portal and an open position wherein said plate is spaced from said portal, resilient means for biasing said plate in said open position, and a member associated with said valve for engaging said plate to override the bias of said resilient means when the valve is moved to the blower position.

3. A vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for selectively moving said valve comprises a toothed rack secured to said valve, a gear, means rotatably mounting said gear in meshing relationship with said rack, a pinion operatively secured to and concentric with said gear, a second toothed rack, a manually engageable lever secured to said second rack, said lever and second rack being selectively movable between a suction position and a blower position, means for mounting said second rack in meshing relationship with said pinion, and means for releasably locking said lever in a selected one of said positions.

4. A vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 1 wherein said valve comprises an elongated member having an upper wall including first and second apertures formed therein, a lower wall including an aperture formed therein, an annular wall member secured to said upper and lower walls for registering and communicating said first aperture and said lower wall aperture to thereby define said first conduit, means secured to said upper and lower walls for spacing said upper wall from said lower wall and for defining an opening therebetween, said last named opening communicating with said second aperture to define said second conduit.

5. A vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 4 wherein said upper and lower walls are substantially rectangular in configuration and said spacing means comprises a wall secured to three edges of each said upper and lower wall.

6. A vacuum cleaner as defined in claim 4 wherein said valve is slidably mounted on said second housing, said first and second inlet openings are spaced one from the other along the direction of translation of said valve, and said means for sealing said second inlet opening when the valve is in the suction position comprises the lower wall.

7. A vacuum cleaner as defined in claim 6 wherein said portal sealing means comprises a plate adapted to overlay said portal, means for pivotably mounting said plate on said frame adjacent said portal such that said plate may be pivoted between a closed position wherein said plate overlays said portal and an open position wherein said plate is spaced from said portal, resilient means for biasing said plate in said open position, and a member associated with said valve for engaging said plate to override the bias of said resilient means when the valve is moved to the blower position.

8. A vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 7 wherein said means for selectively moving said valve comprises a toothed rack secured to said valve, a gear, means rotatably mounting said gear in meshing relationship with said rack, a pinion operatively secured to and concentric with said gear, a second toothed rack, a manually engageable lever secured to said second rack, said lever and second rack being selectively movable between a suction position and a blower position, means for mounitng said second rack in meshing relationship with said pinion, and means for releasably locking said lever in a selected one of said positions.

9. A vacuum cleaner adapted to be converted between suction and blower modes of operation comprising a lower housing, an intermediate housing secured to the lower housing defining a vacuum chamber therebetween, a porous filter bag mounted in said chamber for filtering air drawn therethrough during operation in the suction mode, means defining a slideway in said intermediate housing, means defining a first air inlet opening in said slideway for communication with said bag, means defining a second air opening in said slideway communicating with said chamber exterior of said bag, an upper housing mounted on said intermediate housing defining an air moving compartment in a portion therebetween, said compartment communicating with said slideway, air moving means, means mounting said air moving means in said compaltment with the intake of said air moving means in communication with said chamber for creating subatmospheric pressure in said chamber, exhaust port means in said compartment for venting air discharged from the air moving means during the suction mode, a hose, means for mounting said hose in said upper housing proximate said slideway, a control valve mounted in said slideway and adapted to slide between a suction position and a blower position, said valve including a valve body having means defining a first air passage and means defining a second air passage therein, means for selectively sliding said valve between the suction position wherein air is drawn through said hose into said cleaner and the blower position wherein air is blown through said hose out of said cleaner, said valve being positioned in the suction mode such that said first passage communicates said hose with said first air inlet opening and said valve body overlays and seals said second air inlet opening, said valve being positioned in the blower mode such that said second passage communicates said hose with said air moving compartment, and means for sealing said exhaust port means when said valve is in the blower position so that substantially all the air moved through said compartment communicates with said hose.

10. A vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 9 wherein said exhaust port sealing means comprises a door shaped to overlay said exhaust port, means for pivotably mounting said door in said compartment for movement between a substantially port sealed position in which the door overlays the port and an open position in which the port vents air from said compartment, means for biasing said door in the open position when said valve is in the suction position, and means including a member secured to and movable with said valve for pivoting said door when the valve is slidably moved toward the blower position such that said door is pivoted into a substantially sealed relation to said port when the valve is in the blower position.

11. A vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 9 wherein said exhaust port sealing means comprises a seal secured to the upper housing above the slideway in the vicinity of the blower position of said valve, said seal being in abutting relative with said valve while in the blower position to minimize flow past said valve so that substantially all the air communicates said compartment with said second air passage and said hose, said seal being out of sealing relationship when the valve is in the vacuum position so that air may flow past said seal, between said upper and intermediate housings and out the cleaner.

12. A vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 9 wherein said means for sliding said valve comprises a toothed rack secured to said valve, a gear, means rotatably mounting said gear in meshing relationship with said rack, a pinion operatively secured to and concentric with said gear, a second toothed rack, a manually engageable lever secured to said second rack, said lever and second rack being selectively movable between a suction position and a blower position, means for mounting said second rack in meshing relationship with said pinion, and means for releasably locking said lever in a selected one of said positions.

13. A vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 9 wherien said valve body comprises an elongated member having an upper wall including first and second apertures formed therein, a lower wall including an aperture formed therein, an annular wall member secured to said upper and lower walls for registering and communicating said first aperture and said lower Wall aperture to thereby define said first air passage, means secured to said upper and lower Walls for spacing said upper wall from said lower wall and for defining an opening therebetween, said last named opening commuicating with said second aperture to define said second air passage.

14. A vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 9 wherein said valve body comprises a first substantially rectangular plate having first and second spaced apart apertures formed therein, a second substantially rectangular plate spaced below said first plate having an aperture formed therein, an annular wall member secured at the top to said first plate about the periphery of said first aperture and further secured at the bottom to said second plate about the periphery of said second plate aperture to thereby define said first air passage, wall means secured to said first and second plates at three edges thereof for spacing said first plate from said second plate and for defining an open end, said valve being disposed such that said open end communicates with said air moving compartment and with said second aperture to thereby define said second air passage.

15. A vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 14 wherein said exhaust port sealing means comprises a door shaped to overlay said exhaust port, means for pivotably mounting said door in said compartment for movement between a substantially port sealed position in which the door overlays the port and an open position in which the port vents air from said compartment, means for biasing said door in the open position when said valve is in the suction position, means secured to said door and disposed relative to said pivot means so as to define a lever arm, and a rod secured to said valve body and extending out said open end for engaging said lever arm when said valve is slidably moved toward the blower position such that said door is pivoted into a substantially sealed relation to said port when the valve is in the blower position.

16. A vacuum cleaner as defined in claim 15 wherein said means for sliding said valve comprises a toothed rack secured to said valve, a gear, means rotatably mounting said gear in meshing relationship with said rack, a pinion operatively secured to and concentric with said gear, a second toothed rack, a manually engageable lever secured to said second rack, said lever and second rack being selectively movable between a suction position and a blower position, means for mounting said second rack in meshing relationship with said pinion, and means for releasably locking said EVE? in a selected one of said WILLIAM I. PRICE, Prirn rExaminer positions- 0. K. MOORE, Assistant Examiner References Cited Us, ()1. X R UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 5 3 2,227,302 12/1940 Edstrom 15330 2,500,832 3/1950 Kirby 15330 X 

